The Little Black Bird

[Lowboost]

After seeing The Bac and his vette I thought it would be fun to do a write up on my project.
Starting with bone stock 01 Formula
Decided to kick off with a little cam upgrade. Tick TorqueMax stage 2, Crane double Springs, TSP pushrods. Went ahead and put head gaskets, new lifters and trays, 2 piece timing cover for easy cam changes, SLP long tube headers, 3” catted y pipe, and kept the factory car back for sleeper mode.
While in the middle of this work, a buddy was getting a divorce. He called and offered me a BMR tubular k member, poly motor mounts, upper and lower rod end double adjustable A arms, torque arm, Lower control arms, subframe connectors, panhard bar and low mile struts for $800. All new other than the struts. This explains why the front is out from under the car.

Buttoned it all up, off to alignment.

First test drive, it loses overdrive so off to get the 4l60e built.

Built transmission got a Yank 4000 rpm SS converter

I got hp Tuners Pro

Summer arrived and I haven’t really been outside since.


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[Chevy1925]

Nice! i have always wanted the WS6 version. one day when im low on projects lol

 

[Lowboost]

I love the ws6 cars too! There is a lot of late model Hemi and 5.0 mustang muscle around here that will be more willing to stick their foot in the trap of a stock appearing Formula. The car weighs 2755 with a quarter tank of fuel. And hooks like a rail car.


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[JoshH]

I love the Firebird Formula! It seems the Trans Am is everywhere, but you hardly ever see a Formula. I would love to find a Formula 1LE, but those things are few and far between.

 

[six5creed]

I would love to find a Formula 1LE, but those things are few and far between.

Like finding a crack rock in a salt factory.

 

[ZeroGravity58]

Be prepared to swap the rears. Those stock 7.5's are junk

 

[TheBac]

Be prepared to swap the rears. Those stock 7.5's are junk

They are ok until you wheelhop the car. Then it's, "Bam!" and you don't move. :hehe:

 

[Lowboost]

Be prepared to swap the rears. Those stock 7.5's are junk

I know they are ticking time bombs but I’ve never broken one in any of my 3 f body’s. It seems an automatic trans is what saves them. A stock 6 spd with drag radials is guaranteed destruction. My previous Formula went 11.00 many a pass and the 7.5 never gave up. BMR suspension parts and ET Street Radials have kept wheel hop out of the equation in this little All-motor grocery getter. Nonetheless, this thing will get trailered any time we leave town ....just in case.


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[ZeroGravity58]

I know they are ticking time bombs but I’ve never broken one in any of my 3 f body’s. It seems an automatic trans is what saves them. A stock 6 spd with drag radials is guaranteed destruction. My previous Formula went 11.00 many a pass and the 7.5 never gave up. BMR suspension parts and ET Street Radials have kept wheel hop out of the equation in this little All-motor grocery getter. Nonetheless, this thing will get trailered any time we leave town ....just in case.


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Some people have good luck with them. I blew the ring gear apart in a 97 Camaro and broke axles in 2 of them in my old 92 s10 drag truck before I gave up on the little 7.5 in favor of something stronger.